In an odd coincidence, since we’ve arrived in Toronto we’ve had the chance to attend two sexy-themed life drawing events: Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School over the weekend (in conjunction with the annual Toronto Comics Art Festival), and The Keyhole Sessions last night.
My sketches from these two drop-in events are considerably more risqué than my usual nudes, so I’m hiding the more daring of them behind a cut (or underneath the scroll-down if you’re reading this via email or a feed). If you’re at work or for some other reason don’t want to see any nipple pasties or light bondage, stop reading at the triple asterisks (***)! You know me, though — this is not hard-core stuff; I venture that it’s even kind of cute when interpreted through my pencils. Littlies may ask awkward questions but no one will be scarred for life!
Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School has branches in many different countries, including the US. I was on the mailing list for the San Francisco branch but I never got myself across the bay to attend. The Toronto branch is actually defunct, but because of TCAF they hosted this special event at a bar/lounge a little less than two miles from where we’re staying. The vibe was laid-back and quirky, and the longest pose was only eight minutes. Erik and I arrived late (because we were having dinner with Chad!) so our view of the models was filtered by other people’s heads… but it was still a fairly small group (maybe two dozen artists, max?) and room, so that was fine. What was more distracting was that there was a picture being projected onto a screen behind the models, so there was light/visual interference. But oh well. It was $5. 🙂
After we were done drawing, everyone clustered around the front to see each other’s work.
The Keyhole Sessions is more overtly erotic; their models are usually tied up, and they have a darker, edgier attitude. But their website makes it very clear that the events are safe, friendly, and closed to casual visitors or gawkers (“no drawing materials, no entry”). Again we arrived late (again because of dinner, this time with Anna‘s Toronto family!) but we were welcomed with a smile at the door. Inside the club there was loud music playing, but the atmosphere was professional and relaxed. We took our seats (again at the back… again behind everyone else’s heads and drawing boards) and got out our pencils. We missed the short poses but the ones we caught were perfect: several 10-25 minute poses, and after another intermission, a 45-minute pose with all three models. It was so great to be drawing from models again. The Keyhole Sessions only meets once a month, but there are other life drawing opportunities in Toronto so I will hunt them out!
And now… more sketches.
***
From Dr Sketchy’s “Kiki de Montparnasse” event (inspired by the new graphic novel):
From The Keyhole Sessions’ third anniversary event, “Pride“:
Ooh, la, la … I especially like the drawing of the woman with the violin/celllo tattoo at the small of her back. And the woman on top in the fourth one down from the ***. There’s something hypnotic about it that I can’t describe at the moment.
Thanks, Ré! Hypnotic is a good word for these events, actually, especially the Keyhole one. I always get into a bit of a zone during long sessions of life drawing, but with the lights dimmed and loud music playing, that effect was even more pronounced. 🙂
Ooh la la exactly!!! An art bar?! Is this how hipster artists get together? It’s completely new to me but sounds like huge fun. I like the second-to last one, the way they trail off the bottom of the page. I am so pleased you met my family. Aren’t they crazynice?
Hee. Toronto is totally full of hipsters, though fortunately the art events were more artist than hipster. 😉 Not an art bar! Two separate drawing… I guess you might call them clubs, that meet at bars/clubs for their sessions. There are similar things in SF. 🙂
Your family is reallllly crazynice!! Thank you again for the intro!!
What fun ! I like the penultimate one too. Particularly the standing figure.
Thanks, Alan! I am having a ball with these water-soluble pencils. I get the control and detail of pencil, with the flow and color and softness of watercolors.
Awesome Lisa; what fun!
So much fun!! Especially the setting; I like the idea of a clubby atmosphere, but I don’t drink and I don’t really like crowds. So this is perfect for me. 😉
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[…] makes me so happy that I’ve found drop-in uninstructed life drawing sessions in both Toronto and Glasgow (and I’ve located others in Edinburgh). I hope this will continue throughout our […]